Kwasi Kwarteng named as minister at business, energy and industrial strategy department

Just when you thought the last appointment had been made, Downing Street have just announced that Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed a minister at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy and will also attend cabinet.

Summary of the cabinet reshuffle

Boris Johnson’s new-look cabinet includes Sajid Javid as chancellor and Priti Patel as home secretary among an array of prominent Brexiteers to receive top jobs.

Dominic Raab is foreign secretary and first secretary of state, while arch-Brexiter Jacob Rees-Mogg was made leader of the Commons.

Michael Gove is moved to become the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and replaced as environment secretary by fellow Brexiter Theresa Villiers.

Johnson’s brother Jo is appointed minister of state at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy and the department for education.

Gavin Williamson becomes education secretary, while Andrea Leadsom becomes business secretary, Ben Wallace is defence secretary, Liz Truss is named international trade secretary to the Treasury, and Robert Jenrick is secretary of state for housing, communities and local government.

Mark Francois, deputy chair of the European Research Group, says Boris Johnson should get straight to the point with the EU and set up talks on free trade, something the EU has repeatedly said it would not do without a withdrawal agreement and a deal on the Irish border, EU citizens and the divorce bill.

Francois told ITV’s Peston programme: “The withdrawal agreement is dead. We’re not to try and revive that … pointless on either side to do that. What makes sense it to cut to the chase and go straight to the trade deal a la super-Canada.”

Former culture minister Ed Vaizey says the country should brace itself for no deal after today’s brutal cabinet reshuffle.

“I think it’s quite clear that Boris will go for no deal. He’s got some formidable people with him in No 10 to achieve that objective,” he told ITV’s Peston programme.

“The trouble for people like me face [who are opposed to no deal] is if it goes through and it is bad news, we will still get the blame. The Brexiters hold all the cards and they are very adept at blaming the remainers.”